Tendulkar Stutters as Dravid Shines

If Rahul Dravid gets a big score at Lord’s on Monday and saves India, he could be a top contender for the man-of-the-match award.

All eyes were on Sachin Tendulkar this weekend at Lord’s, but it was his long-time team-mate and fellow batting legend Rahul Dravid who, in typical fashion, slipped under the radar to give India hope in this gripping Test match against England.

Dravid will return to the famous wicket in northwest London on Monday with India’s chances resting firmly on his shoulders. England’s Matt Prior and Stuart Broad took the match away from India with a glorious batting partnership Sunday afternoon, but the visitors can salvage a draw if they bat out Monday. They have nine wickets in hand.

The emphasis will be on survival, rather than trying to chase down what would be a record fourth innings total of 458 runs. With Dravid at the crease, India has hope. This is the type of day you want a man known as “The Wall” on your side.

In the first innings, after the English had set a commanding total of 474 for eight, Dravid was India’s outstanding batsman, scoring 103 not out and in the process jumping above Ricky Ponting to take second place in the all-time list of top scorers in Test cricket.

It looks like Tendulkar’s name will never make it up there, leaving a hole in the resume of the man who has won everything there is to win in cricket. The Little Master, after emerging from the pavilion to a standing ovation Saturday, looked in good form as he and Dravid formed the makings of a threatening partnership. But it wasn’t to be. He was caught on 34, three short of his best Test score at Lord’s.

Things got worse for Tendulkar as he was laid low with a virus Sunday and missed much of the day’s play. His absence means he won’t be able to bat before 12:27 on Monday. Under the circumstances, it’s unlikely he’ll be racking up that elusive century. Dravid has had a busier time in this match, the 2,000th ever Test and the 100th between India and England. Not only did he score a century in the first innings, he also had a spell as wicket-keeper while India’s captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, demonstrated his all-round cricketing pedigree by coming on to bowl.

Dravid, however, will want to forget his messy time behind the stumps, especially the dropped catch off Broad, whose 74 not out demoralized India. Dravid also opened the batting in India’s second innings as Gautam Gambhir recovered from being struck on the elbow by a powerful Matt Prior shot.

Dravid hasn’t had much success as an opening batsman, at least in contrast to his performances at No.3 or lower down the order, but he took on the role in order to steady the reeling Indian ship. The 38-year-old is respected and admired throughout the game, not just for being a wonderful batsman but also for being a great team-player. As if that’s not enough, former England captain Nasser Hussain Saturday described Dravid as one of the nicest people in the sport.

Tendulkar, understandably, is in the spotlight. Everyone wants him to reach that historic 100th century. But it’s worth remembering that there is at least one other very special player in this Indian team.

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